For International Women’s Day, Glow in the Dark Cricket made its colourful debut at the Ramgarhia Sikh Sports Centre on Chapeltown Road, Leeds.
The exciting format is played in the dark with neon softballs, fluorescent striped stumps and bat stickers. Players wore UV-reactive headbands, mesh bibs and face paint in yellow or pink.
At this launch event, organised by the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) with support from Crossgates United Friends Cricket Club, everyone celebrated International Women’s Day, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup countdown and the Hindu festival of Holi.
Unique experience
Sohail Raz, Diverse Communities Manager for Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) said: “We thought why not try something a little out of the box and bring people together with a new format?”
He added: “If I summed up glow in the dark cricket in two words, it would be: Unique experience! Everyone had fun and were getting their phones out for selfies.”
From the 70+ players who registered, attendees came to LS7 with a breadth of experience in the game. From those trying cricket for the first time to softball league cricketers, the warm-up, mini-challenges and Kwik Cricket matches ensured everyone got involved across the afternoon.
Cricketers from Otley Rockets were joined by those softball players finishing their league matches, as well as women from the YCF’s Cardio Cricket, a programme of cricket-inspired fitness exercises.
Along with the cricket, there were breaks for food and the chance to watch some of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand.
Kranthi Raj Mavuri is a volunteer and player for Crossgates United Friends Cricket Club. She works for NHS England as a Senior Systems Engineer and discovered club cricket about three years ago.
Over winter, she has been turning out for United Friends CC in Division 2 of the Leeds Indoor League (part of the West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League). As a contrast to competitive action, glow cricket offered something completely new that no-one had tried before.
No pressure format
Kranthi said: “That was amazing! Everyone was enjoying themselves. For me, that was really fun because we weren’t playing in a league. As much as you want to enjoy cricket, you want to win. There was no pressure here and it was relaxing.”
After the recent festival of colour celebrations, cricket provided a fitting backdrop: “There were a few women from other clubs who haven’t played Holi ever before. We applied colour on them and they were applying onto us and wishing each other Holi. That was nice.”
While Glow in the Dark Cricket may well return after its successful first outing, attention for Kranthi now moves to outdoor practice and then softball cricket this summer with the Crossgates club on Austhorpe Lane.
By John Fuller – cricketyorkshire.com.
